agriculture 29 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Busoga Landlords Rue Long-Term Sugarcane Leases Amid Better Crop Options
Landowners in Uganda's Busoga region are regretting leasing their land for sugarcane farming at rates of Shs600,000 to Shs1 million per acre for six years, as returns pale compared to multiple harvests from short-cycle crops like maize, rice, and vegetables. While providing upfront cash, these deals lock farmers out of more profitable opportunities. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/owners-regret-leasing-land-for-growing-cane-in-busoga-5440300
Sugarcane cultivation has long supported livelihoods in Busoga, but many landlords now express deep regret over leasing their land to growers.
Leases typically fetch between Shs600,000 and Shs1 million per acre for four to six years, offering quick cash but tying up land and limiting flexibility for higher-yield alternatives.
Joy Mukaire from Jinja District highlighted how fixed-rate contracts prevent adapting to better prospects, noting that seasonal crops like maize, rice, tomatoes, and pumpkins yield multiple harvests and faster income within the same timeframe.
Faizo Mukungo in Mayuge District shared that his Shs1.6 million per acre vanishes quickly on essentials like school fees, leaving the lessee to reap greater benefits.
Margaret Namusoke in Luuka District, with 10 acres leased out, lamented forgoing food crops and steady cash flow, calling short-term farming safer for family needs.
Hassan Ssekandi echoed this, realizing too late that the annual equivalent of lease payments is minimal over six years.
Sugarcane farmers like Rashid Were and Prossy Namatovu countered that they face high upfront costs for clearing land, inputs, labor, and face market risks, making profits uncertain even on idle plots.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)